What is your answer when you are asked why do you carry a gun.

P5 Guy - I like your responses. Here in GA where I live, I might be able to use this one.

"Because some people need killin' "

One of the many wisecracks made about Georgia is that "he needed killin' " is a valid defense here.

While I do know a LOT of people that don't carry, few if any of those would be critical of me for carrying. Georgia is a gun culture state for sure.
 
Robbery

Last year my neighbors home was robbed around 9:30 in the morning.
At roughly 2:30 a local LEO knocked on my door and asked if I had heard or seen anything since our homes are near to each other..I asked him in out of the cold and told him that I had not seen or heard anything.
I offered that the thief was indeed very fortunate that he picked my neighbor instead of me. The officer asked why I would make such a statement and I told him....You (the officer) are doing all you can do at this point, when my neighbor needed help you were no where around. You are investigating after the fact. I am never far from a 9mm in my home and should that thief broken in here you would be carrying him out feet first. The officer did not like my response and started a rebuttal. I cut him off with this statement, "The second amendment to our constitution gives me the right to defend my family, my home, and my property. I will not retreat in my own home..If someone breaks into my home they have made a choice that what I own is worth them dying for."
I always carry when my wife is in the car. Yes, I carry a weapon and have been trained to do so, however I pray I will never have to use it....
 
If someone breaks into my home they have made a choice that what I own is worth them dying for."

Check your laws, that may be the line of thinking that sends you to prison for the rest of your natural life.
 
"I've been carjacked 3 times, mugged at gunpoint once"

I've not read all 7 pages, but this is by far the most understandable response of those I've read, although many have been entertaining.
I wonder what percentage of those that regularly carry actually use the gun at some point to get themselves out of trouble? I'd be very interested in hearing their stories.
Btw I'm one of those that has been contemplating carrying for a long time, just haven't taken the course yet. When I read about stories of shooters taking out people like at Luby's restaurant in Killeen Tx, it's a pretty compelling reason for me although the odds are small. I would sure hate to have a situation like that unfold and not have a gun, how much would that suck waiting for your turn?
 
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lets cut the bs

I must say I have heard it all. Let's be realistic, or better yet I will. Your only answer should be because ( I can). I have lived inthe city of Detroit and still do for what on Feb 24 will be 31 yrs . And can honestly say I have never been in a situation that required the use a gun
What I find funny is that most of the people on these forums and in the books I read create all these situations where they might need a weapon yet live in the woods or some place where there is no apparent threat. Just keep it simple say its my right or because I can. Btw people lay of,Detroit grant it money is tight and jobs are few and far but we are not running around robbing each other.
 
xd

xd....Maybe you think my words are harsh...or that my state didn't drill the law into us at our ccw course...You would be wrong...there is a reason for my lack of tolerance for those who commit home invasions.
When my father was serving in WWII, my uncle Matt took over the role of my dad. I loved him very much. He was a kind and gentle soul.
About 20 years ago, over thanksgiving, two men broke into his home looking for drug money. They tortured him, mutilated his body, put a round in the back of his head and left with NOTHING.....
From that day to this, I have adopted the attitude, I WILL shoot first and ask questions afterward.....I would rather be judged by 12, than carried by 6..
Sorry if this attitude does not meet you approval...
 
I carry both open and concealed, depending on the situation, but I've only been asked about it a couple of times.

Once, a guy in a grocery store asked what I was carrying, and a short conversation ensued on the why's and hows of legal carry in Az.

Another time, an attorney "friend" of my dad's asked, "What's the gun for? You scared of something?"

I simply replied, "Nope. Not a thing."

And continued on my way as if I'd never been asked.

Daryl
 
TommyW - if an intruder is inside your home, you have WIDE lattitude on the use of force in North Carolina. If you shoot someone in your home and they die, the odds of you going to jail are VERY slim. For states that have the castle law (North Carolina is one) the laws change DRASTICALLY when someone comes into your home without provocation or permission. You do not have to show that your life was in imminent danger if someone breaks into your home. The mere fact that someone broke into your house is justification enough.

If the person is someone that you KNOW and that can be proven in court, you may have a problem with a prosecutor. But complete strangers take their lives in their hands when they invade a home in any Castle Doctrine state - that is a simple fact.

North Carolina
Use of deadly physical force against an intruder.

(a) A lawful occupant within a home or other place of residence is justified in using any degree of force that the occupant reasonably believes is necessary, including deadly force, against an intruder to prevent a forcible entry into the home or residence or to terminate the intruder's unlawful entry (i) if the occupant reasonably apprehends that the intruder may kill or inflict serious bodily harm to the occupant or others in the home or residence, or (ii) if the occupant reasonably believes that the intruder intends to commit a felony in the home or residence.

(b) A lawful occupant within a home or other place of residence does not have a duty to retreat from an intruder in the circumstances described in this section.[18]



Always know the CCW and deadly force laws in your state.
 
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A lot of people seem to prefer "cute" or otherwise obnoxious answers. While you may feel quite clever delivering your pet saying, you have failed at winning the hearts and minds of moderates, those who have the most control over our continued gun rights.

I will answer the question one of the following ways, depending on circumstances

"To defend myself and my family." - This is a reasonable, legally defensible statement that most normal human beings can easily identify with.

"The same reason I wear a seatbelt. I have worn a seatbelt almost every day of my life, but only needed it once. That one time, I needed it desperately." - Again, easy to identify with, and a very good analogy that doesn't require a ton of explanation. It also overcomes the "what are you, paranoid?" objection.
 
I respond with many of the above responses, then I add that the Police CANNOT be there at the moment of need, their function is to draw a white chalk line around your corpse.
 
Because an armed man will kill an unarmed man with monotonous regularity.

I also like the seatbelt, fire extinguisher comparisons. :)
 
My stepfather asked my why I owned guns once, so I did get to have this conversation in a sense.

I offerred a counter-question about the differrent types of insurance policies he carries. Car, house, life, etc.

I asked why pay all those premiums...unless you are worried something might happen.

I can afford to lose my house or my car. The only thing I cannot afford to lose is ME.
 
my reason is simple the police cant protect every one and shouldnt have to try either its there job to deal with crime's but its the citizen's job to defend them self and their family untill a officer can respond corectly. Also i was raised in church and was tought God charged the head of the house with the protection and and care of their family, that being said a hammer is my tool of choice to drive a nail as is a gun and clear thought is my tool's to protect my family.
 
Usually when I'm asked it is by someone wanting to start a discussion about why I shouldn't. I usually respond by asking them if they keep a fire extinguisher in their home and car. When they say yes, I just explain I carry a gun in the same vain...you never know when you'll need it.
 
Honestly, I don't hang around with people who would even need to ask that question. If they need to ask that, I won't associate with them.

My CHL carry is so discrete that no one even knows that I'm carrying so the general population is clueless.

Flash
 
Quote:
If someone breaks into my home they have made a choice that what I own is worth them dying for."
Check your laws, that may be the line of thinking that sends you to prison for the rest of your natural life.
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Castle Doctrine in Florida states that if someone breaks into your house, you are justified in shooting him. Same applies to being car jacked. It is ludicrous for the law to be any other way.
 
I've used many of those posted, however my favorite is "In case I need to shoot someone." Granted, there are only a few situations I say that in and never in public.
 
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